Will you ever write an autobiography?
No - for two reasons. Firstly, a biography written by Fernando Morais (a Brazilian journalist and writer) is coming out throughout 2009 and 2010 in several countries.
Secondly, I never wanted to write an autobiography because I prefer a third party to write about one’s own work - otherwise it would be too pompous to indulge in such an exercise.
I seem to be having problems in submitting my questions to you Mr. Coelho.
Anyway, I am interested in writing my own spiritual journey but am at a lost to do so. I prefer to write it as if the character/s were not me. Like you, I don’t want to sound pompous and preachy, and also I would be dealing with many institutions that might feel I’m attacking them (my old Catholic school, the neuro-psychiatric ward I was placed in, my former workplace,…).
I hope to have some insights or idea on how to write my own story.
http://voiceoftherainbow.blogspot.com
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i cant wait to read the book by mr. Fernando.
ill get it once its on the sheves,,,
and i agree with u,,, much better let others write about u,
we the blog could collect 10000 opinions about u,,, but most of us would love to know u a bit better,,,
i admire ur work, and i love to read them and to absorb them
lots of love
orly
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Personal History.I like to read diarys,timetravel.To read an autobiography for me is like to look in a keyhole.It’s fascinating,but so much tact needed from both sides:writer and reader.Sometimes “this look into..” is necessary,sometimes not allowed.And to read a biography ,for me the same ,as to read a novel,an essay-I will learn more about the writer,than about “the subject”.
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You put it brilliantly!
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Dear Thelma,
Yes, I agree tha autobiography has to be written by one self but I will rather like to see from the third party as said by Paulo.
You already know about your own self, wouldn’t it be interesting to read something about your own life or self by someone?
That would surely be very very interesting. !
:)
God bless you all !
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I agree with Savita and Thelma.
It’s one thing to have someone say something about your life, but no one can really say what you felt, how you felt, why you did the things you did, how strong was your faith, or were you stripped of it, what you were looking for or weren’t for that matter, because of anger, disappointment, love, the list is endless….
xxoo
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Dear Santosh Kalwar, the only person who can write your … Autobiography is … yourself!! Your Biography, well I wish that someone will write it!!
Autobiography= Αυτοβιογραφία = Self biography in Greek.
Biography = Bιογραφία.
I am looking forward to reading your biography, dear Paulo Coelho, by Fernando Morais, although to look into your life with your eyes and sentiments would have been very interesting. To be .. transparent!
LOVE,
Thelma
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A compendium of your literary works, would collate in effect your autobiography… a masterpiece composing the universal navigation of your soul… Thank you for sharing your most intimate discoveries…
Love, Paul
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I think you had an interesting life because like you said you chose to make things happen.I go for fiction too.And thank you for your advices too,like the ones of yesterday about the plan for the day,discipline and patience are the key.Will keep on reading your advices and thought for the day.Thank you again and a bientot.
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ASide from Athena - I wonder who Paulo should ever wish to write a biography of ?
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Yes and no.Depends a lot.But what about your books,in which we can recognize you.and easily?In “The Zahir”,was not you?Ok,not entirely,but still .I was always wondering what was the amount of truth in a journal,an autobiographical work.Guess no many can answer that.
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To me, it is as if there is a part of your journey in each story. This is what I really love about your work.
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An autobiography written by you, Paulo, is one book that I, personally, would love to read. But I wouldn’t really expect it to be as much about your writing as writing, but about your experience of your own spiritual journey. I wouldn’t expect to find there numerous details about your private life - after all, some things are simply too sacred to be exposed to the light of the public eye. What I would hope to read is a great deal of wisdom, such as the kind of wisdom you share with us here on this blog.
“Spiritual autobiographies” (which have recently become a genre in their own right), I realize, must be rather tricky to write, as well. All too often they come off as rather pompous and preachy. I never even liked the classic, “Autobiography of a Yogi,” which so many people absolutely adore.
In your blog, you always avoid giving concrete examples of your spiritual experiences, noting that such examples set readers up to expect to have the exact same experience, and every journey is unique. Certainly, I agree with this. If you describe your spiritual journey in the form of concrete details, and people highly admire you, then they might read what you have described and think, “That never happened to me…so I must not be so spiritually “advanced” after all.” Or they might say to themselves, “Well, my experience of the Divine is very different from his, so there must be some sort of religious barrier between us.”
Still, I wonder if there is not some way that you could share your spiritual journey with your audience in the form of a book, that would work. Perhaps some experimental format, rather than a simple linear narrative. I don’t know what that would be, of course - only you could answer that - but the one phrase that comes to my mind is: FORM FOLLOWS FUNCTION. In your mind there must be some imprint, some form of map that represents your experience of this journey, and that map or imprint may not be linear at all. Whatever format that imprint takes, that is the shape of the book.
Now isn’t this silly! Me, telling a writer how to write!!! I just remember reading, on several occasions, where the idea of your writing an autobiography was mentioned, and each time, you seemed highly resistant to the idea. I sense that same sort of resistance in your answer here - not simply a disinterest, but an actual active resistance to the concept. (And here I am again, being so bold as to preach to the guru, but…) Sometimes the things we are most resistant to in life are the very places we most need to go.
(Hope you won’t throw me off the blog for that last comment.)
Love and Best Wishes!
Sincerely,
Savita
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I wish someone could write my autobiography oneday !
:)
God bless you all !
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